‍

Mr. James Wilkinson, President, AHICE Group,

Chief Executive Officer, Investment Fiji, Kamal Chetty,  

Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fiji, Dr Paresh Pant,  

Distinguished investors, developers, and industry leaders,

Valued partners,

Ladies and gentlemen,

‍

Bula vinaka, and welcome back to Fiji.

Before I begin, I would like to pay homage and respects to the owners of the lands that we now stand, Vaviyagwane ki na Vanua o Nadi, Were Levu i Navatulevu na Viyagwane na Jui Nadi. We offer our blessings to their leaders - past, present and emerging.  

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

There is a reason Fiji convenes this summit each year. As perhaps the only sector with a dedicated annual investment summit, we do so out of genuine commitment. Commitment to an industry that has demonstrated, time and again, its remarkable resilience and potential.  The Coalition Government believes in tourism. We believe in what it contributes to our people, our communities, and our economy. And we believe that the investment opportunities this sector presents are growing.  The numbers tell the story

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Last year, Fiji welcomed 986,367 visitors. And behind that number is $2.81 billion in tourism earnings, a 10.9 percent increase on the year before. We did not get here by accident. We got here by building the right foundations, making bold decisions, and refusing to let our potential sit idle. Today, I am not here to tell you how beautiful Fiji is or how much return on investment you can make. You already know that, and you have your numbers.  Our momentum is not slowing. In the first four months of 2026, we recorded 276,701 visitors, which is about a 4.6 percent increase. Our hotel sector turnover has hit $1.63 billion. But here is what I want investors in this room to hear clearly: our performance is not just about volume. It is about yield. Our Average Daily Rate stands at $601. Revenue Per Available Room is $467. Average daily visitor spend is $404. Our room occupancy at the close of last year was close to 80 percent. That tells you we are earning more per visitor without having to discount, without having to flood the market. That is the signal of a mature, well-managed destination. That is the signal of a market worth entering.

‍

The Challenges  

We must also be clear-eyed about the realities we face. The global fuel crisis continues to test economies worldwide, and within our own borders, we must remain vigilant.  Our commitment is to the long-term stability and prosperity of Fiji. By prioritizing national interest and pragmatic policy, we are ensuring that Fiji remains a secure, resilient, and thriving destination for every investor and every visitor. Where are we going

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

Our national target is 1.25 million visitors and $4 billion in tourism earnings by 2027. To get there, we need an estimated 4,000 new hotel rooms. And we need them built now. We currently have 53 tourism investment projects in our pipeline, with a combined value of $3.1 billion. Projects already in active progress include the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa Vatu Talei development, the Crowne Plaza expansion at Wailoaloa, the Radisson Mirage Resort on Naisoso Island, and major works on Koro Island.

We are also seeing exactly the calibre of global interest that tells you Fiji is a serious investment destination. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is exploring private island acquisitions here. Kerzner International is planning a worldclass six-star resort in the Yasawas. These are real conversations, with real capital, pointed at real opportunity. And the opportunity extends far beyond traditional hotel rooms. We are actively seeking investment in eco-lodges, MICE facilities, transit hotels, sports tourism infrastructure, medical tourism, and retirement villages catering to international retirees and the Fiji diaspora. There is no ceiling on what this sector can become. We have cleared the path for you. For a long time, Fiji's tourism laws had not been updated since 1973. The world changed entirely, and our legislation had not kept pace. Parliament has just passed the Tourism Bill 2026, the most significant reform of our tourism framework in over half a century. It creates a National Tourism Council to guide policy and a Tourism Fund to support infrastructure and local operators. It gives investors the clear rules and legal certainty they need to commit capital with confidence. Our fiscal incentives are among the most competitive in the Pacific. The Short Life Investment Package provides up to a 20-year tax holiday for major hotel investments above $40 million, with zero to three percent fiscal duties on capital goods and building materials.  Approved tour operators receive a 25 percent tax deduction. Locally owned backpacker operators earning under one million dollars are entirely exempt from income tax. At the same time, we are investing in the infrastructure that your investment depends on. Fiji Airports has partnered with the International Finance Corporation to upgrade Nadi International Airport, providing us with the capacity and systems to handle the projected arrivals.

Beyond Nadi, these upgrades are being extended across our wider aviation network. The upgrade of Labasa Airport in Vanua Levu is nearing completion, while initial assessments for a new aerodrome in the Yasawas are now progressing to the next stage under the leadership of Fiji Airports. And if you are wondering whether technology will be a barrier here, consider this: 95 percent of Fiji's population has access to mobile broadband through 4G and 5G networks. We are not behind. We are ready.

‍

Investment with integrity

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

We want investment that builds Fiji, not just resorts. We are guided by our National Sustainable Tourism Framework, which runs from 2024 to 2034. We want global capital. We also want it to protect our environment, respect our culture, and include our local communities. Paid employment in our hotel sector grew by five percent at the end of last year. That is real income in real households. We want to deepen that.  Our Farm to Fork initiative is designed to reduce the $700 million we currently spend on food imports annually, by sourcing from Fijian farmers and keeping that money circulating inside our own economy. Sustainable investment is not a constraint on returns. In Fiji, it is how you protect them.

‍

Why AHICE, and why now

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

This summit exists because the conversations that happen in rooms like this one change what gets built, where capital flows, and which economies rise. Investment Fiji and Tourism Fiji are here together, not by coincidence. They represent a whole-of-government commitment to facilitating your investment from the first conversation to the opening of your doors. Investment Fiji is here to match you with the right opportunities and guide you through every incentive available.  Tourism Fiji is here to guarantee that whatever rooms you build will have guests to fill them, not just at peak season, but throughout the year. The sessions on midscale and luxury brands are not abstract. They are directly connected to our 4,000-room target. The AI and technology masterclass is not a trend piece. It is operational preparation for the next generation of hospitality in this region. Every conversation you have here over the next two days has the potential to become a project that changes a community, employs a family, and adds to the story of a nation.

‍

Conclusion  

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

I invite you to seize these opportunities, engage with our team, and partner with us to shape a future where tourism not only drives growth but empowers our people.  Your success is our success, and we look forward to achieving great things together.

‍

Vinaka vakalevu.

‍